Losethem (imported) wrote: Tue Jun 24, 2014 6:42 pm I visited Swaziland where one of the local natives informed me that you can be put in prison for four years for being a witch. He explained that the proof is basically just an accusation from someone that you are a witch. The punishment these days is the same as it is for being gay in Swaziland - 4 years in prison.
However, a witches punishment is much less severe these days than it used to be... once upon a time if you were a witch, you were force marched up a hill and encouraged off a cliff at the point of a spear. At least this is the story we heard.
Yes, they are a superstitious lot.
You are quite correct in what you have said. and the same pretty much goes for all the tribes in southern Africa. The old style punishment is still meted out in many rural communities and sometimes they are necklaced which is a particularly horrible way to go. It entails forcing a gasoline soaked tire over the precon and setting fire to the tire and allowing the person to burn to death